Grand Junction, Colo. – With less than two weeks until the April 15 deadline, Colorado Mesa University accounting students are working weekends to make sure Western Colorado families don’t leave money on the table. Through the IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, CMU is offering completely free tax preparation for anyone earning $64,000 or less, persons with disabilities, seniors, and limited-English speakers.
Real-World Classroom: Students Save Families Thousands
Walk into the Houston Hall computer lab on a Saturday morning and you’ll see future CPAs in action. Seniors and graduate students, all IRS-certified after 40+ hours of training, prepare returns while volunteer CPAs look over their shoulders.
“Last year our students saved the community over $1.1 million in refundable credits and preparation fees,” said Dr. Ann Marie Hypes, who co-directs the program with her husband, Dr. Gary Hypes. “One family of five walked out with an $8,700 refund they had no idea they qualified for.”
That hands-on impact is the whole point.
“When students sit across from a single mom who just discovered she qualifies for the Child Tax Credit, something clicks,” Dr. Gary Hypes told me. “They stop seeing numbers on a screen and start seeing lives.”
Who Qualifies and How Much Can You Save?
The IRS raised the VITA income limit to $64,000 for 2024 returns. That means a family of four earning up to $90,000 in some cases can still get free help if they have qualifying credits.
Last year at CMU alone:
- 612 returns prepared
- $852,000 in federal refunds returned to local families
- $287,000 in Earned Income Tax Credits claimed
- Average refund: $1,392
Every dollar stays in Mesa County instead of going to paid preparers who often charge $300-$500 per return.
Last-Chance Weekend: April 11-12
The program runs every Saturday through April 12, but the final weekend is already booking fast.
Appointments are required. Call 970-248-1395 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Walk-ins are welcome only if slots remain, and the line forms early.
What to bring:
- Photo ID
- Social Security cards or ITIN letters for everyone on the return
- All W-2s, 1099s, and income statements
- Last year’s tax return (if you have it)
- Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
Spanish interpreters are on site every weekend, and American Sign Language interpreters can be scheduled.
Bigger Than Taxes: Building Trust in the Community
For many immigrant families and seniors, this is their first positive interaction with the tax system.
María Rodriguez brought her parents last year. “My dad was terrified of owing money,” she said. “The students explained everything in Spanish and found a $3,200 refund he didn’t know existed. Now he tells all his friends at the senior center to go to the university kids.”
That word-of-mouth has doubled the program size in three years.
CMU plans to keep the service free every tax season, and the accounting department is already recruiting next year’s volunteers.
As one student put it while handing a client her refund letter: “I came here to learn debits and credits. I’m leaving knowing I helped a family keep their lights on.”
If you or someone you know still hasn’t filed, one phone call to Colorado Mesa University could be the difference between paying hundreds or getting thousands back. The clock is ticking, but the help is still here.
What’s your experience with free tax programs? Drop your thoughts below and tag #CMUVITA if you share this story, because every share helps another family find this service before April 15.
